Lebanon claims village on Hermon

UN to investigate sovereignty over town of Shebaa

By Daniel Sobelman
Ha'aretz Correspondent,7.5.00

The United Nations is investigating a Lebanese claim that Israel must withdraw from an area on the western slope of Mount Hermon if it is to comply, as it says it will, with the provisions of UN Security Resolution 425. At issue is the area of the village of Shebaa, a few kilometers west of Moshav Neve Ativ, near the international border.

In recent days, Lebanon has stressed that this area is part of its territory, one that was transferred from Syrian to Lebanese sovereignty in 1952.

UN envoy Terje Larson, who begins a visit to Damascus today, will discuss the issue with top Syrian officials, including Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk Shara.

"Syria is helping Lebanon claim that the area is Lebanese so that Israel will withdraw from it," said an Israeli official.

Lebanese Information Minister Anwar Khalil raised the issue of the disputed area last week when he said that Hezbollah would continue to attack Israel as long as "a centimeter" of Lebanese territory remains under Israeli control.